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Sunderland Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) is committed to ensuring the welfare of adults at risk of harm and to safeguard against all forms of abuse.

Every individual has a right to be protected against harm and exploitation, and a right to dignity and respect.

It is everyone’s responsibility to safeguard adults at risk within our society.

Role

SSAB leads and holds partners to account for safeguarding adults in the city. The Board also ensures that it has a shared strategic vision that is embedded in the strategies and plans of all partners. SSAB works to ensure it’s operational and strategic direction is complimentary to that of the Safer Sunderland Partnership, Adult Partnership Board and Health and Well Being Board.

SSAB partners must therefore be active and able to influence and direct their organisations in ensuring adults are and feel safe. They should also be supported to challenge and change abusive situations and to lead and support the development and implementation of safeguarding practices and procedures within their own organisations. Partners should also take forward agreed action plans which prevent and minimise abuse, protect individuals and support the delivery of fairness to all.

The key aims of SSAB are to:

Develop and deliver a shared vision for safeguarding adults, rooted firmly in the wider vision for Sunderland and the promotion of individual human rights, dignity and respect

Develop and maintain strong links with relevant partnerships across the city and ensure the inclusion of safeguarding adults in their strategies and business plans

Promote the active involvement of services users, their carers, their families and their advocates and adopt an inclusive approach to secure wider community understanding, awareness and feedback on safeguarding adults arrangements

Oversee and monitor operational safeguarding adults activity and ensure the production of timely and accurate performance and safeguarding information

Secure citywide consistency in safeguarding and ensure all staff and stakeholders know and use policies and procedures effectively

Secure effective operational engagement and integration through robust governance arrangements and continued Board development and growth

Promote a learning culture around safeguarding by supporting and participating in Safeguarding Adult Reviews, through shared learning, by learning and contributing to relevant national policy and research, through the dissemination of information, advice, feedback, reviews, research, best practice in prevention and learning through joint quality assurance processes.